It's All About Attitude

by Leslie Aronson — April 7, 2008

Finding the motivation to exercise is often hard, especially if it's been awhile. You know you'll feel better if you do it, you know the benefits of a good workout, and you know you should move around instead of watching the next vapid reality show that comes on T.V., but somehow inertia is stronger than your logical reasoning. Attitude can often be the difference between vegging out with "America's Next Top Model" and getting your butt out the door for a walk. Maintaining a positive outlook on your personal exercise regimen can undoubtedly be difficult, but it's necessary if you intend to follow a lifelong healthy lifestyle. If you dread your workouts and constantly find excuses why you shouldn't go to the gym, then you:

a) might need to change up your workout to find something you actually enjoy
b) need to readjust your attitude and perhaps reassess why it is that you're exercising to begin with

While changing a negative attitude to a positive one is much easier said than done, it is possible. Try giving yourself a good, old-fashioned talking-to - it might sound ridiculous, but it works. Or find another motivator outside the exercise itself - like the prospect of seeing the cutie who hands out towels at the gym, or the opportunity to be outside on a spring day, or simply knowing that you're taking one step towards living a healthier lifestyle. Whatever you need to tell yourself in order to get off the couch and stop making excuses - do it. And the more you do it, the more your attitude will inevitably improve.